Tropical cyclone likely to form in northwestern Caribbean over the weekend

MIAMI, USA — A broad surface low drifting slowly northward over the eastern Yucatan Peninsula continues to become better defined, with the chances of formation of a tropical cyclone through 48 hours estimated to be high (70 percent) and 90 percent through the next five days.

Although showers and thunderstorms, along with strong gusty winds, remain primarily over the adjacent waters of the northwestern Caribbean Sea, environmental conditions are forecast to become more conducive for development through early next week.

According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida, a subtropical or tropical depression is likely to form by late Saturday over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

An Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate the disturbance Friday afternoon, if necessary. Locally heavy rainfall is forecast across western Cuba.